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Assistance for seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Services Provided
This website allows you to "self serve" at your own pace on a 24-hour, 7-day basis.
If you prefer to speak with us directly, call 808-241-4470 (Monday thru Friday, 7:45am to 4:30pm), or for additional information Contact Us.
We also offer a list of frequently asked questions.
Our agency offers the following to help seniors, persons with disabilities, and caregivers:
- Information about topics commonly associated with aging, disabilities and caregiving
- Referral to community service providers
- Assistance in screening and applying for government benefits and making informed decisions about long term care needs
Home and Community Based Services
Knowing where to turn for assistance is crucial. Below is an overview of common home and community services that may be available to you. These types of services are intended to help older adults maintain wellness, independence and safety, to assist those who cannot live at home without assistance from family and/or formal services and to support family caregivers. You may want to print out the following senior information and resource handbook, developed in April 2008:
 Kauai's Senior Info and Resource Directory
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. Specific services and training vary among workers and agencies. So does cost. Typically, Medicare doesn't pay for home care. Many of these services have eligibility requirements such being 60 years old or older. Call 808-241-4470 for more information.
For adults with disabilities (18 years or older) in need of similar services, go to the Find Services section of this website. Another valuable source on the Internet you may wish to visit is the “Key to Resources Serving People with Disabilities in the State of Hawaii” developed by the Disability and Communication Access Board.
For general eligibility guidelines for these services, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
| Service |
Definition and Examples |
| Adult Day Care |
Provides care outside the home. Participants have the opportunity to interact with others while being part of a safe and structured environment. Centers typically have staffed activities such as music and exercise programs and discussion groups |
| Adult Protective Services |
Provides crisis intervention, without regard to income, including investigation and emergency services for vulnerable adults who are reported to be physically abused, neglected or financially exploited by others or seriously endangered due to self-neglect |
| Attendant care |
Companion assistance and or helpful reminders and oversight to assist with daily tasks such as preparing meals, shopping for personal and food items or using the telephone |
| Caregiver Counseling |
Information, referrals, support groups, training, education and counseling to assist caregivers in accessing services and resources, problem solving and making decisions related to their caregiver roles |
| Caregiver Respite |
Services which offer temporary, substitute supports or living arrangements for older persons in order to provide a brief period of relief or rest for caregivers. Examples include: (1) in-home respite such are personal care or homemaker services, and (2) respite provided by attendance of the care recipient at a senior center, adult day care or other non-residential program |
| Case management |
Crisis and longer term professional assistance for clients to identify needs, explore options, develop a care plan, link to and coordinate services, monitor and follow up |
| Chore |
Help with heavy housework |
| Chronic Disease Self-Management |
Interactive 6-week workshop for seniors with chronic health conditions and their caregivers |
| Congregate Meals |
Nutritious meals provided in a group dining setting |
| Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Services |
Health screenings, nutrition counseling and education and health maintenance programs to prevent and mitigate the effects of chronic diseases including osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease |
| EnhanceFitness |
Physical activity program designed to improve the overall functional fitness and well-being of older adults |
| Elderly Nutrition |
Hot lunches at various congregate meal sites and island-wide home-delivered meals to homebound seniors |
| Friendly Visiting |
Volunteers provide friendly visiting (companionship), respite for caregivers, help with errands, transportation to medical appointments and grocery shopping assistance |
| Grandparents Raising Grandchildren |
Family caregivers (grandparents) have supportive programs and services that address their needs to enable them to continue giving care |
| Home delivered meals |
Nutritious meals delivered to a client’s home |
| Home Health Care |
Skilled medical care that can include nursing; speech, occupational, physical, or respiratory therapy; home health aides, and social work or psychiatric care |
| Home Modification |
Renovations to increase the ease of use, safety, security and independence in the home. Examples: installing grab bars or ramps. Using a licensed contractor is recommended |
| Home Service Registry |
Referral of in-home workers who provide services for a fee |
| Homemaker |
Help with preparing meals, shopping for grocery and or personal items, managing money, using the telephone and doing light housework |
| Hospice Care |
Medical, social, and emotional services for the terminally ill and their families. Can be provided in the home or a facility |
| Housing Assistance |
Help with identifying housing needs, understanding options, and obtaining adequate housing to improve an individual’s present housing arrangement, or to relocate to more suitable housing when needed |
| Information and Referral |
Information on senior resources and referral or linkage to appropriate agencies; community outreach to provide information about available services |
| Kupuna Care Transportation |
Bus service available for registered seniors to and from program activities, for shopping, clinic and recreation; Kupuna Care transportation (door-to-door) services for frail elderly |
| Legal Assistance |
Legal education, counseling and referral in Medicaid, Medicare, landlord-tenant, creditor, family law and other legal matters. Limited document preparation |
| Medical Alarm and Safety Device |
Several types of personal medical alert systems exist on the market. Generally speaking, they provide immediate access to a trained professional in the event of a fall or an emergency with the click of a button that you wear |
| Para-professional Services |
Counseling and escort services |
| Personal care |
Help to clients who are unable to bathe, eat, dress, toilet, and or transfer themselves safely |
| Recreation, Leisure, Physical Fitness |
Programs that foster the health and well-being of older persons such as music, dancing, games and crafts, excursions and group exercise classes |
| Respite |
Provides caregiver relief by assisting in the supervision and care of frail elderly |
| Senior Companion |
Program-qualified senior volunteers provide companionship and assistance to frail, homebound older adults |
| Senior Identification Card |
Photo I.D. available to persons 60 years and older |
| Telephone Reassurance |
Telephone contact by volunteers to isolated elderly |
| Transportation |
Transportation from one location to another; may include a helpful driver |
| Volunteer |
Meaningful volunteer opportunities for persons 55 years and older |
The following are general eligibility guidelines, but they do not apply to all services. Call 808-241-4470 for more detail:
- U.S. citizen or qualified alien
- 60 years or older
- Client is not already receiving service from another government (e.g. Medicaid) or private service (e.g. Home Health Agency) provider
- Live in a residence, not an institution (ICF, SNF, ARCH, hospital, foster family)
- Have impairment of two or more ADLs or IADLs or significantly reduced mental capacity
- Have one or more unmet ADL or IADL need
ADL - Activities of Daily Living (eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, transferring, mobility)
IADL - Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (preparing meals, shopping, managing money, using the telephone, doing housework, using public transportation, taking medications)
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For Help Call:
808-241-4470
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